William Demarest

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William Demarest, who portrayed soft-hearted grouches in more than 100 films, was best known as Uncle Charley from the TV series "My Three Sons."

Demarest spent much of his career in vaudeville, beginning as the youngest of three brothers in the Demarest Trio. He went to Hollywood in 1926 to appear in Warner Bros. early Vitaphone sound shorts and later in "The Jazz Singer" (1927), starring Al Jolson.

In addition to his "My Three Sons" role as the crusty retired sea captain, Uncle Charley, which he played for seven seasons, Demarest appeared in such other television series as "The Millionaire" and "Tales of Wells Fargo."

As a character actor, his roles included "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" in 1939, "The Devil and Miss Jones" in 1941, "The Jolson Story" in 1946 and "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" in 1963. He was nominated for an Academy Award for supporting actor for "The Jolson Story."

— Jack Jones in the Los Angeles Times Dec. 29, 1983